Well we all are aware that "obesity" and the "Convenience food era" are slowly overwhelming our population. In a society where people are so job focused, they find it easier to grab something quick on the go, rather than take the time and effort to really make sure what they "are eating" is what they "should be eating".
How many of us stop for fast food more than twice a week?? and by fast food I mean anything that comes from a drive through / a restaurant where you walk in and have to look up to order/ or even a sit down restaurant where the meal takes less time to make than it does to eat. If you are in any of thees categories, I think you need to have a reality check.
Here are my five rules to live by when it comes to nutrition:
1) Portion control: Although hunger may overwhelm you at some points of the day, make sure that you don't over eat. Eating 5-6 times throughout the day will help keep your metabolism constantly working. Eating three big meals a day or even dare i say "skipping breakfast!!" can put your body into starvation mode. Once the body is in starvation mode any food items that we consume will most likely be stored as fat. By eating often and no more than 400calorie meals during the day, you will find you are less "starved" throughout the work day and also could help you start to shed the excess weight.
2) Sweat once a day: GET UP OFF THE COUCH AND DO SOMETHING!!! Physical activity is a must. We get home from a long day of work and the last thing on our mind is exercise. Lets just flip on the TV and find the next best "weight loss" management system!! WROONGG..... Go for a walk, ski, skate, snowboard, jog, anything. The body needs physical activity. No one will ever loose weight by sitting on their ass and being lazy...
3) Fibre is your friend: The body needs at least 25 to 40 grams of fiber daily. Most of us fall very short of this goal. Fiber is the indigestible part of plants and helps our digestive systems in the " cleaning process". Without fibre our bodies could carry pounds of excess cargo that can pollute our bodies and cause extra ponds to be stored. Eat whole fibre cereals, add berries and nuts to desserts (low calorie and low sugar desserts of course). Always choose fresh over cooked fruit. Check the side of the box, cereal is a great way to get your daily intake up and really doesn't taste bad at all....
4) Fresh always: Fresh fruit, fresh vegetables are the way of life. Our bodies can break down almost everything we put into it (except corn?? wonder why.......anyways). Never choose processed anything, if you cant pronounce the ingredient list, then you don't need to eat it. Fresh is best. Fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of fibre, natural sugars and vitamins our bodies need. Cooking or peeling may lead to the loss of essential nutrients and fibre. Fresh frozen vegetables are fine because they have been frozen at their freshest.
5) Set your goals: Don't get lost in this saying! Everyone through your whole life probably told you "you have to set goals", i remember by co-op teacher in high school used to say this to me every time i saw her....Well we are not in high school anymore and time is flying by us at the speed of light. Set small goals that are easy to accomplish like "today I'm going to jog for 20 minutes while watching Top Chef" or "This whole week I'm dedicating to fresh fruit and vegetables". Once you get in the habit of sticking to these goals, then start to set ones that need hard work to accomplish. Self gratification is the best feeling and if you find yourself struggling, just scale back and remember that there are always people there to help you and guide you in the right way....
Live by these rules and you will find yourself on the right track to a healthy lifestyle...
Chef
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